“I do agree with you. Of course. But it’s also my responsibility to look out for your best interests. Not only because I’m your friend but because it’s my job as manager. That’s what you hired me for.”

Adam crossed his arms. “What does any of this have to do with my best interests?”

Kurt groaned in frustration. “Look, if you want me to cancel their memberships, I will. But you better come up with a way to get more business in here soon. I ran the numbers while you were over there helping that woman. You’re running out of options, buddy. If you’re lucky, you can keep the Body Shop running for another four or five months before you’ll have to close down. Six, if you’re really lucky. And that’s only if you don’t lose any more customers. Unfortunately, that includes those two idiots.”

Damn it. Although Adam knew this was coming, he didn’t think it would be this soon. But when he gazed back at Preslee across the room, his jaw clenched tightly. While he didn’t know her, she came across as sweet and innocent and didn’t deserve to be made fun of. By anyone.

He glanced back at Kurt. “Cancel their memberships. Those jerks deserve to be taught a lesson. We’re the only gym within a thirty-mile radius of Granite. Maybe the inconvenience of those two having to find a new one and drive a good distance to work out will teach them some manners.”

His friend nodded. “All right. Done. Now what are we going to do about keeping the gym open?”

“I’m not sure. Any ideas?”

Kurt smirked. “Yeah, you could ask your wealthy parents for a loan.”

Adam snorted. “I’m thirty-one. What kind of grown man runs to Mommy and Daddy for a handout at the first sign of trouble?”

“The desperate kind.”

Adam scowled, remembering the way his dad had chastised him this afternoon about returning to med school. “I’ll never be that desperate. It’s bad enough that they already think I won’t be successful. All because it’s not the career they would’ve chosen for me. But I’m going to prove them wrong by making this gym profitable.” Even if he didn’t yet know how.

He glanced over his shoulder to check on Preslee again and make sure she was still alive and well. So far, so good. She was on a spin cycle, legs pumping up and down as fast as they would go. At least she couldn’t hurt herself on that particular machine. Well, probably.